Wright State University recognizes the exercise of the rights of expression, affiliation, and peaceful assemblage. Wright State students, faculty, and staff may express their views by demonstrating peacefully for concepts they wish to make known, and the university will make every reasonable effort to protect this right. The university also has an equal and simultaneous obligation to protect the rights and freedoms of those who choose not to participate in a demonstration. Additionally, the university has an obligation to protect its property and to assure continuation of the activities of students, university faculty and staff, and guests on campus.

1. Wright State University is committed to freedom of thought and freedom of expression. All members of the academic community have the right to express their opinions. Faculty, staff, and students should be free to discuss, debate, and express ideas and opinions in public or private forums as long as they do not disrupt university functions.
2. A broad range of speech will be tolerated at Wright State, subject to consideration of the health, welfare, and safety of all faculty, staff, and students and the functioning of the university.
3. Speech may be legitimately regulated with regard to time, place, and manner when it has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the educational environment, disrupting the functioning of the university, or inciting an immediate breach of peace.
4. Conduct, the purpose or effect of which is not frightening, coercing, or intimidating specific individuals but is merely deemed offensive to certain groups, will not be grounds for regulation or punishment.
5. The university is committed to the elimination of all forms of bigotry on campus.
6. The university will consider each alleged violation of this policy on a case by case basis and will examine the time, place, pattern of conduct, and, where relevant, the existence of a specific relationship between speaker and target.
7. The university encourages all faculty, staff, and students to exercise their free speech rights responsibly. Categories of speech should be consistent with the inclusive language in Policy 4001.23 (Equal Educational and Employment Opportunity Policies and Affirmative Action Plan).

Reasonable and orderly scheduling, assignment, and use of university facilities, resources, and personnel are necessary to assure continuation of educational programs and other activities, to accommodate the needs of all persons, and to respect the rights of all members of the university community.

1. To secure assistance in planning and obtaining university facilities, to ensure that other activities are not adversely affected, and to protect the rights of all members of the university community, as well as participants and nonparticipants in all demonstrations and marches, sponsors must register such events with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services and secure approval for use of any university facility.
2. All sponsors of demonstrations or marches must register such events in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services not less than 24 hours in advance. Under compelling circumstances, the hour requirement can be waived by the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services or his/her designee. Items of information necessary to complete this process include:
1. Desired location
2. Desired date and time
3. Route of march, if applicable
4. Estimated attendance
5. Sound devices to be used (e.g., bullhorns, musical instruments)
6. Security plans and list of marshals
7. Names and phone numbers of organizers
8. Names of speakers (preferred for security purposes)
3. The university will use its best efforts to register groups for demonstrations and marches and will take into consideration the health, welfare, and safety of all concerned. Registration will not be accepted if the requested space has already been reserved or if the university, using its best efforts, cannot make appropriate security arrangements necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of its students, faculty, and staff.
4. Organizers may also be requested to reschedule the event or modify the location or route or other arrangements, in order to achieve the objectives stated above.

1. The laws of the state of Ohio and Wright State University's Code of Regulations prohibit the following actions:
1. Obstructing or disrupting university teaching, research, or administration.
2. Causing, or threatening to cause, injury or harm to persons or property.
3. Inciting riot.
4. Obstructing the free flow of pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
5. Possessing illegally or using firearms, explosives, or other weapons, chemicals, or fire extinguishers.
6. Failing to comply with the orders or directives of university officials, police, or any other law enforcement officers acting within the scope of their duties.
2. Use of sound amplification equipment within 500 feet of university buildings or in a manner obstructive or disruptive of university functioning is prohibited.
3. Demonstration activities may not occur inside university buildings, unless permission is granted by the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services or his/her designee and by the Chief of Police, at least 24 hours in advance of the planned activity.

If the conduct of a demonstration or march violates any section of this policy, the event shall be subject to immediate cancellation and disbanding of all participants by order of the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services or his/her designee.

1. Any persons failing to disband from a demonstration or march upon being ordered to do so pursuant to section 4007.5 of this policy shall be in violation of this policy and subject to appropriate sanctions. Students and student organizations in violation of this regulation shall be subject to the sanctions of the "Code of Student Conduct" as defined in the Student Handbook and/or to arrest for violation of state law. Persons not registered as students who are in violation of this regulation shall be subject to arrest.
2. In the event of an emergency situation in which, in the judgment of authorized Police Department personnel, riot or harm to persons or property is imminent, the on-duty supervisor may order dispersal of participants and cancellation of the demonstration or march prior to obtaining an order from the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services or his/her designee, as set forth in section 4007.5 of this policy.

Any individual or group convinced that arbitrary, unlawful, or unreasonable limitations have been imposed upon any demonstration or march under the provision of these regulations may appeal those limitations to the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services.

1. A steering committee, chaired by the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, shall manage any periods of prolonged student dissent or disruption on campus. In addition to the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, the committee will be comprised of the Chief of Police, director of Communications and Marketing, president of the Faculty Senate, president of Student Government, president of the Residential Communities Association, director of the Office of General Counsel, director of Residence Services, and the director of Student Life. The committee will meet as often as deemed necessary by the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services and shall determine appropriate action based on the input of all representatives.
2. During periods of prolonged student dissent or disruption on campus, the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services will facilitate communication with activist leaders, serve as spokesperson for the university, and keep the president of the university fully apprised of the situation.